Recurrent Pseudolymphomatous Reaction to Ear Piercing: 20-Year History
October 2023
in “
Pathology
”
TLDR A woman had a rare reaction to ear piercing that caused earlobe swelling, which was best treated by removing the piercing and not re-piercing.
A 48-year-old female with a history of earlobe swellings, initially thought to be keloids from ear-piercing, was found to have a pseudolymphomatous reaction, a rare complication of ear piercing. The patient underwent full thickness excision and primary closure, but re-piercing led to an apparent acute infection. Histological examination of the excised skin samples revealed a florid lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate and non-caseating granulomata, indicative of a foreign body type reaction to metallic debris from the ear piercing studs. The patient had a similar reaction 20 years prior. The case highlights the importance of considering pseudolymphoma in the differential diagnosis of earlobe swellings following piercing, and the need for careful clinicopathological correlation. The most effective treatment is removal of the causative agent and avoidance of re-exposure.
